Quilts

One last thing that I want to mention. A month or two ago Dave and I decided that we wanted to make the kids quilts for Christmas. We didn't do much until a couple weeks ago I figured that I had better go buy the material. We didn't start tying the quilts until the week before Christmas, and I finished up sewing the last one Christmas Eve. The kids saw us making them and we told a white lie, that they were for two grandmas and a grandpa! :) They were really excited Christmas morning to know that they were actually for them! I am pretty proud of our hard work

Christmas 2008!

I set my alarm for 7:45 Christmas morning. I got up and the house was silent. I hurried and showered and got ready, as did Dave. By the time we were all ready, the kids were still asleep! Actually, Easton had just barely gotten up and was looking in his stocking. I had to wake the girls up. They were still in really deep sleeps and would have slept a while longer.

They were very excited to check out their stockings and begin opening presents. They were spoiled as usual. Santa's main gift to each was: a couple sets of Star Wars legos for Easton, and Easy Bake oven for Paisley, and a doll stroller for Avery. They also each got books, calendars, robes, clothes, etc. etc. Too much! :) Their favorite gifts that all 3 received was MP3 players. Even Avery got one. It is for kids called a Shaker. It doesn't require head phones, and you just twist the top to get to the next song. She carries it around all day and loves it.







After presents we went to my parents' house for breakfast and more presents. They of course got spoiled by grandma and grandpa, as did we.





That afternoon we went to my aunt and uncle's for lunch. The kids had a great time playing with their cousins. We played a really fun game called the Curse of the Wolfen. (google it!) Anyway, soooo fun. We played several rounds of it.

Afterwards we went home and put the kids to bed. Then my brother and his wife and Dave and I played a while on Dave's Christmas present, Rock Band 2. Fun, fun!!

It really was a great day. Full of family and fun! Oh, and good food, what more can you ask for??

The next day I did breathe a sigh of relief. As much fun as Christmas is and as much as I really look forward to it, I still am relieved to have it over and go back to normal life.

Plus, only a week left til our cruise! YEA!!!

Christmas Eve

We always spend Christmas Eve with all of Dave's family. This year we all went to Dave's parents' house and had a great dinner, prime rib and potatoes! Yummy! Then we cleared dinner away.


Dave's Uncle Dennis was in town from Denver. He read The Night Before Christmas to all of the grand kids. They all listened very attentively, especially knowing that they were going to be opening presents next!

We always draw names for presents between the siblings and spouses and then also between the grand kids. So, starting with the youngest child, we each took a turn opening our present. Avery got a play guitar. She loved it. I told my sister-in-law that I will be paying her back for that toy! :) Paisley got a super cute outfit and a Princess-opoly game. Easton got Star Wars Clone Wars movie, and a bunch of Star Wars figurines.

I got a really nice present with pictures of the kids. I loved it!



And, Dave got a Denver Broncos Fathead!! Yea...Not! I mean, he was really happy, he has wanted one for a long time. I am just not very excited to have it on the walls in my house! :) Oh well! He was happy and that is all that matters!

We also give the kids pajamas and slippers on Christmas Eve. It was a great evening. It is a lot of fun to spend time at Dave's parents'. The kids were getting tired and so we took them home to bed. They saw a flashing red light in the sky on the way home and were absolutely sure that it was Rudolph. So they were very quick about getting to bed so that Santa could come.

The kids left out cookies and chocolate milk for Santa. They also left carrots for the reindeer. Easton left his own note for Santa:


I wrote Paisley's note for Santa, dictated by her:

Santa wrote notes back to each of the kids and they thought that that was really neat.

Christmas Eve Eve

On December 23rd we went to a party with all of my mom's extended family. They have been having this party since before my mom was born. So, every year we go have dinner with all of my great-grandma's children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We always eat and then have the most special guest, Santa, come and give the kids a present.

The kids really like being able to talk to Santa and tell him what they want. Avery wasn't scared of Santa at all, she just wanted her present! :) Easton got a basketball hoop to put over his bedroom door. Paisley got a Spirodoodle, and Avery got a little pull-and-say toy. They all had a lot of fun. It was good to spend time with family!

Family Pictures

On December 22nd, all of Dave's siblings and his parents met for family pictures. They turned out really nice. Unfortunately because of copyright issues I can not get one to post. We all wore cream. As we were waiting for others to get their pictures taken I took a few of my 3 cuties! Always a difficult task to try to get a good picture of all of them. They really looked cute that night, though!

Santa at Sub Zero!!

On December 19th, Paisley had a preschool field trip to an ice cream parlor called Sub Zero. I was able to go with her. The only bad thing was that it was at 9:30 a.m. A little early for ice cream I thought, but none of the preschoolers seemed to mind.


They got to watch the people make each of their ice creams.


Paisley got chocolate ice cream with bubble gum in it. To each their own, huh? She loved it.

Soon after everyone was finished, her teacher read them a story, and then what do you know? Santa came!! They were all very excited to see him. Paisley got to sit on his lap and get a candy cane. She asked him for a pair of ice skates. Hmmm...




Anyway, I was really glad that I was able to go with her. It was fun to have a girls' morning out. Thank you to Dave's mom for watching Avery!!!

Easton's Christmas program

I am way behind in my posting. I guess that I will be doing several posts tonight to catch up.

On December 18th, Easton had his Christmas program at school. They did the whole school's program in one night. Each grade sang a few songs. It started at 7:00. I knew that it was going to be a crowded night so I got to the school about 6:15. I was one of the first ones there, so I got seats on the front row. It filled up pretty quick. By the time that it started it was standing room only. It was packed! I am sure that next year they are going to split up the programs.

Luckily Easton is only in 1st grade, so we didn't have to stay long. We left after he was done. (After every performance some people would leave and others would take their spots. So, we weren't being rude to leave!) :) They sang a couple of really cute songs, my favorite being All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth! Very cute!! They did great and it was fun to go watch!


I told Dave that within the next couple of years we wouldn't be able to pay Easton to wear that hat! :) But, I am glad that at least for now he didn't mind! I thought they all looked cute! But, he kept making faces at me as I tried to take a picture of him. Typical Easton!! :)

Most Traditional

Friday night was our ward Christmas party/chili cook-off. So, I signed up to make chili. I talked to my friend in the ward and told her that I have a good recipe for chili, but that it is just normal chili, nothing fancy. I told her that if I win a category it will be for the most traditional.

Anyway, they had several categories, most spicy, most unique, best tasting, and most traditional.

Sure enough, I won for most traditional! I was pretty excited! I have never won (or entered) any cooking contests before and so I was glad to be recognized. :) They gave me an apron that said, "Most Traditional." There were lots of good competition there.



Santa Clause also attended our party. He came around to each table and talked to each child. He gave them each an orange, to go along with a story that was read about a Christmas orange. The kids loved that part!



All the primary children serenaded us with a couple of Christmas songs. Avery really wanted to go stand up with Easton and Paisley as they sang. I let her for a minute but then she became too much of a show off and she had to come sit down. :) And then it was over. Short and sweet. :) It was a fun little get together. It was good to visit with ward members, and oh so fun to win! :)

Do they make me look smart?

I don't often blog about just myself. But, today my new glasses came in! I have had one other pair of glasses, and they broke well over a year ago. I have missed them. I always wear contacts, but it will be nice to have a break from them now and again. So, here they are! I like them. Now, obviously I am no model. But, I am happy to finally have glasses! Yea for me!